The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-01-13
WHAT THE GOV. THINKS.
EXTRACTS FROM HIS ANNUAL
MESSAGE TO THE LEGISLATURE

Accompanied With Running Comments
and Suggestions A bout Matters Of Pub
lie interest. 81
The CHRoo,cLE takes issue with the
Governor in the opening statement ok his
message: that the last two years haye been
years of plenty and profit. On the con-
trary they have been, TO most people,
years Of hard toll and poor remuneration.
We think there is no doubt that the peo-
ple-we mean the farmers, because they
eohsSLute the great majority Of our popus
sslation-are poorer to- day than they were
two years ago. Certain 1t is that in cen
tral North Carolina land has deprecated
in value and the lines have not fallen in
pleasant places to those who make their
bread by the sweat of their face. The
whole creation groaneth and travaileth to
gether il pain, until the time of deliver
ance from this tine, so rich in calamity
and disaster, shall be ushered in.
And yet. as the Governor we'll says. we
have cause for ''the profoundest graft
tude." He reminds the l. gislators-(it
may be a needful reminder to some who
expected to turu everything over and
make great changes in week)-that they
are not all powerful, ana he says, ''after all
has been done that man can do, we must
acknowledge our dependence upon God,
and recognize His hand in shaping and
controlling the destnies of States and
Nations
The Governor first makes a showing of
the public fund Of tie State. All of US,
consciously or unconsciously, in every
thing, treat of money matters first. Is it
because money is made of primary i'm
portanceO The expenses of the State
Government last year We're $492 019. "a.
He is pleased to see that the State Treas
urer thinks there can be a reduction in
the tax from 25 to % cents on 800 worth
of property. A statement is made about
The public debt and the construction bonds
given to build the n. c. R. r. from Colds
boro to Charlotte The report Of the Tax
Commissioners is commended and some of
the amenments suggested are considered
wise and economical.
As is the case in nearly all work done
for the State, the amount appropriated
for the Supreme Court Building was not
sufficient, and an additional appropriation
is asked to complete it. This is a needed
building and the amount expended up to
date has not been excessive. One reason
given by the architect for. s1king an addi-
tsssoidllssl1s tbas' he .srss its--
.sssifa,i inted ii utilizing - much cor fct
labor as he hoped !" IL is presumed the
convicts were engaged on the railroads and
could not work for the State.
The Governors Mansion-otherwise
known as '.Jarvis's Follyn-commenced
four years ago, is said to remain uncoin-
pleted. The Governors Coancii contract
ed with the Penitentiary Board to COM
plete it for $25, 900. The appropriation
is exhausted. The Governor says, 1.-The
Penitentiary Board, if allowed to use their
own earnings, it is believed can and will
complete the work according to contract,
but as there was no authority of law for
this applicatiop OF any of these funds, it
was eto1Mlned to refer the matter to the
Ieetsfature, for such action as they deemed
best.
The Governors Mansion is twice as large
and three times as expensive as it ought
to be, but it must be finished now in prop
er style and finish. The mistake was
made by legislature in the past thinking
that a Governor needed mansion now
he did in the Colonial days. The truth is
the Governor doesn't need house very
much larger than anybody else, and the
State cannot afford to give it to him. But
it would be folly to stop now and lose all
that has been expended. The wise Legis
lators will therefore see to it that sufficient
funds are appropriated to continue the
work.
The Governor discusses the Agricultural
Department at length, giving details of
the good it has accomplished and makes
some suggestions about its future work.
We are going, shortly, to give our readers
write Up Of this Department, telling
what it has done and what it ought to do.
In that connection we will give the views
of the Governor in full. AS the oyster
survey is conducted under the direction
q. of the Agricultural Department we shall
also discuss it and give the Governors
views about it at tie same time.
We shall also in a future issue discuss
the Industrial School proposition and the
management of the Penitentary. Then
we will present the Governors views in
regard to them. He speaks plainly and
gives many valuable facts and figures
about convict labor.
Referring to the Asylums the Governor
says:
I'VE have done nobly but all could not
be done at once; up to this point, there is
no blame; after this, neglect will be a
crime. In the name of humanity, and the
noble work already done, | appeal to you,
to begin at once to complete it. 1t is be
lieved that additions can be made to the
Asylums in Raleigh and Goldsboro, by
which ample, but plain and substantial
accommodations can be made for them, at
the rate of $300.00 per capita, provided
the Legislature will authorize the brick
and all common labor to be furnished by
the Penitentiary. | recommend that 1t
shall be done gradually and by annual
appropriations, so that the burden may
not fall all at one time upon the people.
The Morganton Asylum is completed,
and as the rooms were not occupied as
early as was expected, the sum of $14, 800
OF her appropriation has never been drawn
from the Treasury. The road between this
Asylum and the depot is deep, miry, and
almost impossible during the winter
months, and they ask, and Join in the
request, that a sufficient number of con-
yicts be furnished them, free of charge. to